Virginia Woolf, one of the most prominent 20th-century novelists, is generally remembered as
the pioneer in stream-of-consciousness techniques. This novel is as famous as The Reluctant
Fundamentalist by
Mohsin Hamid, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Conquest of
Happiness by
Bertrand Russel, A Passage to
India by E.M
Forster, and Pride and
Prejudice by Jane Austen.
To the Lighthouse is one of her famous works. The novel is
divided into three sections:' The Window, Time Passes, and The Lighthouse.'
It is one of the best literary works ever written and centers
around the theme of loss, subjectivity, and childhood recollection.
There are a lot of symbols being used in this novel. The majors are
given below.
1. The Lighthouse
2. The Sea
3. Color Symbolism
4. The window
5. Lily Briscoe and her Painting
6. Ramsay's Summer House
8. Other Minor Symbols
1. The Lighthouse
The 'Lighthouse' in this novel is described as a silvery misty-looking tower with yellow light. At the beginning of the book, the youngest son of Ramsay's family, James, wishes to visit, and it ends when he reaches there. The Lighthouse as a symbol has different interpretations, and the critics seem divided, but many agree that it represents strength, guidance, and a safe harbor. "It is a spiritual hermit guiding all those traveling by sea." Some critics believe that it shows the life of humanity, but the exciting thing is that it appears differently to each character.
To Mr. Ramsay, it seems as the source of stability and comfort, while for Mrs. Ramsay, the predictability and ultimate truth are essential. For Lily Briscoe, it becomes the source of fixation and inspiration. To James, it is a fascination initially, but at the final stage of the novel, it becomes a source of clarity and strength.
It is believed that the symbol of the
Lighthouse may have religious, social, and Telic meanings. Some critics have
seen it as the allegory of the Old and new Testaments. They take it as the
Garden of Eden. It is symbolized as truth triumphs over darkness. In simple
words, different critic has explained this symbol differently.
2. The Sea
The symbol of the sea is very important due to the novel's
setting. The sea shows time's internal flux, where time and
light come together throughout the first section. It represents the instability
of time and life and suggests the human race in general and individual
personality in particular. Violence and force bring destruction. The sea is a
powerful reminder of the impermanence and delicacy of human life. In simple
words, it symbolizes the movement of a human being.
3. Color Symbolism
Virginia Woolf uses a few colors in the novel 'To the
Lighthouse' to portray the characters' traits. A close study shows that red and
brown are the colors of individuality and egotism, while blue and
green symbolize impersonality. Blue represents Lily's impersonal art, and
red depicts the egotistical nature of Mr. Ramsay. Mrs. Ramsay's purple color
shows the journey to egotism from impersonality.
4. The Window
The window in this novel is described as an opaque and separate
sheet of glass. This glass sheet represents a hindrance between Ramsay's mind
and the window. The window is quite a recurring symbol in Virginia Woolf's
work. The window shows the mingling of his personality (Characters) with outer
reality.
In this novel window is just like a screen between reality and
consciousness. We come across moments of both revelation and integration in
this novel. In short words, this window represents the imperfection
of knowledge. It is an insight into our soul.
5. Lily Briscoe and her Painting
Lily Briscoe shows the personality of Virginia Woolf and her desire that a woman should be strong as Lily is. Lily symbolizes the feminist movement, and the painting represents her struggle in a patriarchal society. Virginia's motive behind writing this novel was to make women strong.
Lily's struggle in a patriarchal society is shown through the composition of
art and the texture of her painting. Her painting represents the dedication to
the feminist artist's vision. By drawing Mrs. Ramsay's picture, she is paying tribute to all the women or the feminist movement. She disproves the
popular narrative of that time that women couldn't paint or write.
6. Ramsay's Summer House
It is a significant and essential symbol because all the actions have occurred in this house. It is also important that all characters explain
their belief and observation. The house represents the collective consciousness
of all the people living there.
The second section, 'Time Passes,' takes over the plot's
development, where all characters become brief, and gradually, the house decays.
Nature is portrayed as an intruder causing its decay. The eventual decline of
the house symbolizes the impermanence of the human being. The house's condition reflects some characters' war, destruction, and death. Finally, the
house appears as a refuge. Virginia portrays the house from different angles
because, through the house, the characters' state is reflected.
7. Mr. Ramsay and Mrs. Ramsay
Interestingly, the entire characters stand for certain symbols,
but we will focus on Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay.
Mrs. Ramsay
Mrs. Ramsay can be regarded as the creator of a fertile human
relationship. She becomes a symbol of comfort, warmth, sympathy, and reassurance.
She appears as a unifying force and harmony of good fellowship. "Lily sees
Mrs. Ramsay's gift of harmonizing human relationships into memorable moments."
Mr. Ramsay
He has some flaws, as his children found in his character. Mr.
Ramsay remains the symbol of a sterile destructive barrier to the relationship.
That is the reason Mrs. Ramsay opposes him. He lacks warmth and
sympathy with others. Mrs. Ramsay symbolizes creative vitality, while Mr.
Ramsay is a destructive barrier. He is like "a beak of brass, barren and
bare." His knowledge shows fragmented, not wholeness.
8. Other Minor Symbols
Minor symbols are rocks, reefs, storms, and shallow water representing different things. Rocks, storms, surface water, and reefs show sufferings of life, danger, emotion, and difficulties, respectively.
The Boar skull is an important symbol hanging on the nursery
wall. Mrs. Ramsay finds it unpleasant and disturbing because it reminds her of
death. Boar Skull also shows the ultimate reality of life.
Lily’s painting represents a struggle against gender convention, represented by Charles Stanley's statement that women can’t paint or write. Lily’s desire to express Mrs. Ramsay’s essence as a wife and mother in the painting mimics the impulse among modern women to know and understand intimately the gendered experiences of the women who came before them. Lily’s composition attempts to discover and comprehend Mrs. Ramsay’s beauty just as Woolf’s construction of Mrs. Ramsay’s character reflects her attempts to access and portray her own mother.
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